Editing Curiosity (section)

=== Integration of the reward pathway into theory ===
Taking into account the shortcomings of both curiosity-drive and optimal-arousal theories, attempts have been made to integrate neurobiological aspects of [[Reward system|reward]], wanting, and pleasure into a more comprehensive theory for curiosity. Research suggests that desiring new information involves [[mesolimbic pathway]]s of the brain that {{clarify|text=account for|reason=do these pathways "account for" dopamine activation, or do they more straightforwardly "activate dopamine"?|date=July 2023}} [[dopamine]] activation. The use of these pathways, and dopamine activation, may be how the brain assigns value to new information and interprets this as reward.<ref name="csun.edu"/><ref name="Costa_2014">{{cite journal | vauthors = Costa VD, Tran VL, Turchi J, Averbeck BB | title = Dopamine modulates novelty seeking behavior during decision making | journal = Behavioral Neuroscience | volume = 128 | issue = 5 | pages = 556–566 | date = October 2014 | pmid = 24911320 | pmc = 5861725 | doi = 10.1037/a0037128 }}</ref><ref name="Kakade_2002">{{cite journal | vauthors = Kakade S, Dayan P | title = Dopamine: generalization and bonuses | journal = Neural Networks | volume = 15 | issue = 4–6 | pages = 549–559 | year = 2002 | pmid = 12371511 | doi = 10.1016/s0893-6080(02)00048-5 | url = https://zenodo.org/record/890565 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170913183503/https://zenodo.org/record/890565 | archive-date = 2017-09-13 }}</ref> This theory from neurobiology can supplement curiosity-drive theory by explaining the motivation of exploratory behavior.